The National Research Centre for Orchids was established on 5th October 1996 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi to organize research programme on improvement in productivity, quality and commercialization of orchids. The Sikkim state authorities handed over 22.19 acres of land belonging to Regional Agricultural Centre along with all other assets to ICAR for establishment of the centre. In October 1997, the centre also took over the CPRS, Darjeeling from CPRI and established a campus for research on temperate orchids.